Californians banished Gray Davis on Tuesday, capping an extraordinary political melodrama by recalling the governor just 11 months after they re-elected him. Exit polls indicated Hollywood action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger was leading the field of candidates to replace him.
Mr. Davis became the first California governor pried from office and only the second nationwide to be recalled, in a remarkable campaign that featured one of the planet's best-known entertainers and captivated an international audience.
Mr. Davis became the first California governor pried from office and only the second nationwide to be recalled. His ouster capped a remarkable campaign that featured one of the planet's best-known entertainers and captivated an international audience.
Re-elected last November with less than 50 per cent of the vote, Mr. Davis fell victim to a groundswell of discontent in a state that has struggled with its perilous financial condition.
A total of 135 candidates lined up to replace him, including the Democratic lieutenant governor, Cruz Bustamante, conservative Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock and Green Party candidate Peter Camejo. Source.
